February 2010 by Belva Greenage

FEBRUary 2010 Complimentary

Seeing Red Gorgeous And Heart-Healthy Foods

Coastal Romance Wedding Vows In The Sand

Heart Of The Matter Your Coronary Health

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Time For Bed Trends In Bedding And PJs

Flowering In Winter Beautiful Backyard Camellias

1/19/10 10:55 AM

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This Valentine’s Day, Fall In Love With A New You. This Valentine’s Day, show yourself how much you care. It’s easier—and faster—than you may think, thanks to Dr. Sean Freeman. Dr. Freeman offers a variety of non-surgical procedures that can freshen up your look in as little as an hour. A double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with years of experience and training, Dr. Freeman personally attends to each patient, ensuring the best care in every procedure, including Botox™, Radiesse™ and more. Best of all, with special pricing just in time for the holiday, you can look your best and get a sweetheart of a deal.

Valentine’s Special $100 off Botox Browlift and selected fillers. Expiration 2/28/10

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Specializing in Facial Plastic Surgery Since 1988 Double-Board Certified, Fellowship Trained

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Contents February 2010

D e p a r t m e n t s

12 From The Publisher Matters Of The Heart

15 Girl Time

Tips, Trends, And Fancies

20 Queen City Jewels

Happenings You Don’t Want To Miss

26 Money Talks

Saving Big Bucks Takes A Little Change

28 On The Move

Charlotte Women Making Strides

29 Work Notes

74 Health Matters

Eating Red For Optimal Health

75 Meet Our Advertisers

Cornelius: Come Sit A Spell

76 Health Flash What You Need To Know To Stay Well

Sleeping In Style

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68 At Home

Time For Bed!

REVITA Anti-Aging Offers Wellness From The Inside Out

62 Fashion

T o d a y ’ s

Trip The Fragrance Fantastic

Water Cooler Chit-Chat

58 Welcome To The Neighborhood

66 Beauty

C h a r l o tt e

82 Tomorrow’s Charlotte Woman Charlotte’s Future Fabulous Females

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exercise

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Learn more about this simple, immediate solution at tryfemsoft.com, or call us at 1-800-FEMSOFT (1-800-336-7638).

CAUTION: Rx only. USA (Federal) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician trained in the management of urinary incontinence. INDICATION: The FemSoft Insert is indicated for the management of stress urinary incontinence in adult females. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Not for use in women with bladder or other urinary tract infection (UTI), urethral stricture, bladder augmentation, pelvic radiation, or conditions where urethral catheterization is not clinically advisable, immunocompromised, at significant risk from UTI, interstitial cystitis, pyelonephritis, history of severely compromised urinary mucosa, unable to tolerate antibiotic treatment, on anticoagulants, overflow incontinence or neurogenic bladder. WARNINGS/ PRECAUTIONS: Patient education and monitoring by a qualified professional is required for safe use. History of frequent UTI may increase risk of UTI. Continuous 24‑hour use increases the risk of complications. Replace every 6 hours to reduce UTI risk. Discontinue for urinary, vaginal, venereal infection; hematuria; bleeding; abrasion, irritation of the bladder, urethra, urethral meatus. Mental impairment may reduce ability to use safely. Safety and efficacy have not been evaluated in pregnant women. Use of improper size could result in migration or discomfort. Do not use during sexual intercourse. ADVERSE EVENTS, COMPLICATIONS, AND RISKS: The following adverse events have been reported with the use of the device: Bacteriuria, symptomatic UTI, urinary symptoms (including urgency, frequency, and nocturia), asymptomatic UTI, insertion trauma, bladder/urethral trauma/irritation, hematuria, spotting, vaginal yeast infection, device failure, bladder spasm, back pain, migration, pyelonephritis (possibly related to pre‑existing renal stones). © 2010 Rochester Medical Corporation, Stewartville, MN

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Charlotte Woman Today’s

Business/Lifestyle

Volume XIII, Number 10 February 2010 PUBLISHER

Belva Greenage ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Fern Howerin Editor

Michelle Young Hubacher Assistant Editor

Karsen Price ART DIRECTor

Anita O’Hara SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Carrie Boyd Sales Director

Kristen Dibble Sales Executive

Barbara Herd Business Manager

Nikki Wilson WEb Designer

Cliff McNamara Contributing Editor

Leigh Barrett

30 46 pROFILEs

Augusto Photography James Brown Scott Stiles Kea and Robert Taylor/Imagine Photography

As Charlotte’s Only Female Cardiologist

34 Heart To Heart

Lisa McKenzie Leads Levine Cardiac Kids, For Families In Need Of Support

5200 Park Road, Suite 111 Charlotte, NC 28209 704/521-6872 www.todayscharlottewoman.com

FEATUREs

Essay

41 Testing Local Tickers

Love For Dad, Fully Vested

57 A Cranberry Valentine

46 Flower Power

Camellias: The Perfect Winter Bloomer

50 A Seaside Wedding

One Local Couple’s Perfect Celebration

60 Wedding Wows

Nuptial Trends For Twenty-Ten 8

T o d a y ’ s

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C h a r l o tt e

Leigh Barrett Jennifer Bradford-Epstein Meaghan Clark Fiona Harmon Michele Huggins Melinda Johnston Deb Mitchell Karsen Price Lee Rhodes CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

30 Without Missing A Beat Dr. Cheryl Russo Blazes A Trail

Presbyterian Involved In Groundbreaking Study Of Young Women And Heart Attacks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

OnTheCover Dr. Cheryl russo, cardiologist with sanger heart & vascular institute.

Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Today’s Woman Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area. Subscription rate is $20 per year for 11 issues plus the TCW Resource Guide. Copyright ©2010 Today’s Woman, Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited. Today’s Charlotte Woman and Today’s Woman Inc. do not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers.

Photo by scott stiles.

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todayscharlottewoman.com From The Heart

Events

Money Talks A Wealth-Building Seminar Financial security isn’t only for the wealthy; it’s essential to all of us. TCW is joining Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to offer Money Talks: Your Money, Your Power, a financial workshop designed specifically for women. Join us March 11, at the Ritz-Carlton, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., for a discussion centering on how we spend, how we save, and how we prepare for the future. Visit todayscharlottewoman.com to RSVP for this free event.

Love From Afar Take Care With Care Packages When you can’t be with that special someone on Valentine’s Day, a care package is a sweet way to send your love. Baking up a batch of homemade goodies for significant others is an easy way to show how much you care, but equal care should be taken to ship those treats! Visit todayscharlottewoman.com for ideas on packaging Valentine’s goodies in such a way that no hearts (cookies, or otherwise) get broken.

T o d a y ’ s

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C h a r l o tt e

Enter To Win

Insider Lifestyle

Beads For Needs

Live Well

Each February, the nonprofit Beads for Needs hosts a Mardi Gras-themed soirée to raise money for children’s charities. This year, the ninth annual event is scheduled for Feb. 11, at Andrew Blairs on 1600 Montford Drive. Enter our contest at todayscharlottewoman.com to win free tickets to the event.

Insider Beauty

Pamper Yourself The Peppermint Way Just the thought of peppermint conjures that refreshing scent and minty flavor. Taste buds aside, peppermint is beneficial as a beauty product; peppermint spa treatments can leave skin radiant and rejuvenated. Create a peppermint spa in the comfort of home with tips found at our Web site.

Eat Well With Cooking Tips From Chef Wolfgang Puck Chef Wolfgang Puck is known for his contemporary dishes, which combine a variety of influences to make the ultimate American dish. At the heart of his talent lies his WELL — Wolfgang’s Eat, Love, Live — philosophy, which means using food made with humanely treated, natural, organic, and seasonal ingredients when available. Indulge your inner cook and bring the WELL philosophy to your own kitchen with tips from Chef Puck, found at our Web site.

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Experience immediate relief from involuntary urine loss, a common medical condition affecting more than 12 million women in the U.S. alone. FemSoft is a reliable, non-surgical treatment option with coverage by Medicare and a growing number of insurance plans. Talk with a specialist about trying FemSoft and get back to doing what you enjoy most.

Learn more about this simple, immediate solution at tryfemsoft.com, or call us at 1-800-FEMSOFT (1-800-336-7638).

CAUTION: Rx only. USA (Federal) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician trained in the management of urinary incontinence. INDICATION: The FemSoft Insert is indicated for the management of stress urinary incontinence in adult females. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Not for use in women with bladder or other urinary tract infection (UTI), urethral stricture, bladder augmentation, pelvic radiation, or conditions where urethral catheterization is not clinically advisable, immunocompromised, at significant risk from UTI, interstitial cystitis, pyelonephritis, history of severely compromised urinary mucosa, unable to tolerate antibiotic treatment, on anticoagulants, overflow incontinence or neurogenic bladder. WARNINGS/ PRECAUTIONS: Patient education and monitoring by a qualified professional is required for safe use. History of frequent UTI may increase risk of UTI. Continuous 24-hour use increases the risk of complications. Replace every 6 hours to reduce UTI risk. Discontinue for urinary, vaginal, venereal infection; hematuria; bleeding; abrasion, irritation of the bladder, urethra, urethral meatus. Mental impairment may reduce ability to use safely. Safety and efficacy have not been evaluated in pregnant women. Use of improper size could result in migration or discomfort. Do not use during sexual intercourse. ADVERSE EVENTS, COMPLICATIONS, AND RISKS: The following adverse events have been reported with the use of the device: Bacteriuria, symptomatic UTI, urinary symptoms (including urgency, frequency, and nocturia), asymptomatic UTI, insertion trauma, bladder/urethral trauma/irritation, hematuria, spotting, vaginal yeast infection, device failure, bladder spasm, back pain, migration, pyelonephritis (possibly related to pre-existing renal stones). © 2010 Rochester Medical Corporation, Stewartville, MN

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PHOTO BY RFG PHOTOGRAPHY

FromThePublisher

Matters Of The Heart

t’s February, and TCW is once again recognizing American Heart Month by devoting an issue to women’s heart health concerns. I personally would like to dedicate this month’s magazine to the memory of my mother, who died from a massive heart attack in 2005; and to my sister Gloria, whom we nearly lost to sudden cardiac arrest on a May afternoon in 2007, as she was exercising. Gloria now sports an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) and is in the continual care of a cardiologist. Her focus is on living every moment in every day, not sweating the small stuff, and fully recognizing that God is in control. My family situation underscores the fact that, for me, heart disease truly is a woman’s problem. My sister was 56 when she had her attack — just a year older than the cutoff age for women in the VIRGO study detailed in our feature, “Female And Young At Heart,” on page 41. This ongoing national study, which involves Presbyterian Hospital and concentrates on women who have suffered heart attacks before the age of 55, brings forth an important actuality: Heart disease is a problem for women both young and old. Despite the recent progress and attention surrounding heart disease in women overall, we still have a long way to go when it comes to understanding heart disease in younger women. Then there’s the hope that is illustrated in our profile of Dr. Cheryl Russo, the only adult-care female cardiologist in Charlotte.

T o d a y ’ s

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C h a r l o tt e

Hard to believe, but true. Together with Dr. Russo, we explore why she chose this path, the reasons she is one of few, and the very real career and family choices she’s made while balancing the responsibilities of being both a doctor and a mother. This woman has joined my list of heroes! While we have devoted much of this issue to heart disease, don’t expect us to stop there. The local affiliate of the American Heart Association recently approached TCW to be the official print sponsor for the Go Red For Women® program in the Charlotte area, and we were delighted to accept … because we believe that informed women are powerful women. In partnership with AHA, we’ll kick things off with National Wear Red Day on Feb. 5, and throughout the year will be providing you with information and activities designed to raise awareness about women’s heart health. Be sure to visit us online at todayscharlottewoman.com to find our Go Red For Women Corner. Finally, as we celebrate matters of the heart this February, I am asking you to add to your list one special Valentine — your own heart. Cherish it, protect it, and love it. I hope this issue will convince you that it’s important, especially for women. Sending you heartfelt love,

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get your

green on Be Part Of Today’s Charlotte Woman! Advertise In The April “Green” Issue Tout your ecofriendly products Reach earth-loving customers celebrate earth Day 2010 Show off your best shade of green

no more missing ingredients!

Contact: TCW’s Ad Team at 704-521-6872 Space DeaDline: march 03, 2010

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GirlTime t i p s ,

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A Melody For Your Man

This Year, Leave It To The Professionals

n Valentine’s Day, woo your sweetie with an old-fashioned love song … but give your pipes (and his ears) a rest, and leave the singing to a professional quartet from Queen Charlotte Chorus. For $45, Fri., Feb. 12, Sat., Feb. 13, and Sun., Feb. 14, quartets will deliver “Singing Valentunes” to your loved one’s office or home, or tableside during a romantic dinner at the area restaurant of your choice. Visit queencharlottechorus.com or call 704/5560690 for information. >

F E B R U A R Y

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GirlTime

Message In A Bottle

Go Red …

For A Hearty Cause

Notes Of Love And Affection

onsider a month full of sweet sentiments for someone who could use a daily pick-me-up. KindNotes has created a jar filled with 31 notes, each enclosed in a decorative mini-envelope, offering words of inspiration, love, thanks, or fond memories for a friend, family member, loved one, and even a co-worker. KindNotes founder Linda Tong was inspired to create the jar-o-joy after searching high and low for the perfect way to show her appreciation to her then-boyfriend (without scaring him off with an actual love letter). Her idea more than did the trick — the two are now married, and in business together helping others spread messages of love. KindNotes offers a selection of ornamental jars and pre-made greetings for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or simply to say “Thank you,” or “Get well soon.” Shoppers can also use an

interactive online wizard that allows them to show off their individuality, thought, and imagination with customized messages that are then placed in the jars, which retail for $29.95 to $39.95. KindNotes proudly supports United States troops by offering a 20-percent discount for members of the military who want to show their love from overseas. Visit KindNotes.com for information.

This month, red isn’t simply the color of amore. Show your support for the fight against heart disease by wearing red on Feb. 5, the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day, and an integral part of AHA’s Go Red For Women® movement. Women are dying of heart disease at the rate of almost one a minute. Yet, many people are unaware that this deadly condition is the No. 1 killer of women. Decide to make a difference in your community by going red. Visit goredforwomen.org and sign up for a Wear Red Day Kit, which offers a free how-to guide for building awareness about heart health.

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Carolina On My Mind Check Out The Old North State’s Free Travel Guide

ake 2010 the year you promise not to miss the Daffodil Festival in Fremont, the Coin Show in Wilmington, the Pickle Festival in Mount Olive, or the Bold-Faced Liars Showdown in Laurinburg. The 2010 North Carolina Travel Guide, available from the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development, is a free publication that provides a wealth of material on Tar Heel history, resources, and events throughout the year. The 2010 Travel Guide highlights 776 attractions and 4,026 accommodations, and includes information on activities hosted throughout North Carolina, including in its state and national parks. You’ll also get the skinny on myriad annual festivals and other events, showcasing the diversity that North Carolina has

to offer — from music, motorsports, museums, and family fun, to all of the outdoor activities residents and visitors enjoy, including hiking through the Great Smoky Mountains, golfing in the Piedmont, and surf-fishing off the Atlantic coast. The Guide also includes feature stories on anniversaries and important North Carolina news, such as the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte on May 11. On the cover of this year’s edition you’ll find either a stunning photograph of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, or an inviting image of the historic city of New Bern, which celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2010. To obtain a copy of the 2010 North Carolina Travel Guide, check out VisitNC.com or call 800/ VISITNC. The Guide is also available at the state’s nine official interstate welcome centers.

Cheers To You!

Motivational CD Gives You A Hand If you find yourself in need of a cheering section every once in a while — just before you ask for a raise, perhaps; or right after your teenager has informed you that you don’t have a clue — consider piping the sounds of an audience simply wild for you into your headphones. The Good Cheer Company’s Cheers To You! CD provides you with eight tracks of encouraging words, uplifting praise, and cheering applause. For $16.95, you’ll feel like a rock star! (A downloadable MP3 is available for $12.95.) Visit TheGoodCheerCompany.com to order. >

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F E B R U A R Y

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Romance Realism

Documentation

Prepping The Paper Trail

Preparing Your Prenup

Violet P. Woodhouse, certified Family Law Specialist, certified Financial Planner, and author of Divorce & Money: How to Make The Best Financial Decisions During Divorce, says a couple can save time and money by being prepared before walking into the attorneys’ offices, simply by bringing the correct documentation. Woodhouse provides the following tips on what every couple should provide to their lawyers before drafting a prenup:

espite the fact that prenuptial agreements are most often portrayed as doomsday predictors, worst-case scenarios, or even purveyors of bad mojo, these legal agreements make a lot of sense. Although a marriage is seen as a loving and unbreakable bond between the happy couple, the reality is that marriage is also a contract between two people — a contract that involves a variety of financial rights and obligations. It’s a good idea for any engaged woman to consider a prenup, but it is especially important for someone who owns a small business, is remarrying, or entering the marriage with previously acquired assets, such as property, retirement accounts, or inheri-

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You’ll LOVE Your New Smile! Find Solutions For Your Smile With Us! u u u u

Do you cover your teeth when you talk, laugh, or pose for a picture? Are you frustrated about crooked, spaced, worn, discolored teeth? Do you have old, ugly dental work, and you want NATURAL RESULTS? Are you looking for a dental home that restores your trust...and your smile?

If you answered “YES” to any of the above questions, give my office a call. We can help! You no longer need to worry about having an unsightly smile. Instead, you can now have the Brilliant, Head-Turning, Show-Stopping Smile you’ve always dreamed of…and it’s easier, faster, and more comfortable than ever. You may even be accused of looking 10 years younger!

Finally, The Secret to Gorgeous, Lifelike Dentistry is Revealed! “Now I have the smile I’ve always wanted. My teeth look and feel great. My only regret is waiting so many years to get it done! Thank you Dr. Bowman, from the bottom of my heart.”— Bonnie Taylor; Charlotte, NC “Dr. Bowman, this was one of the few times in my life that I felt comfortable with a dentist. Your entire See Our staff is incredibly friendly and Website For thorough, which puts me at ease. More “Rave Thank you!” Reviews!” — Angela House; Charlotte, NC

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“Dr. Bowman and his team are professional, caring, gentle, up on the latest technology and most of all, dedicated to their patients. I am never anxious or nervous about my appointments because I know I am in good hands. I’ve always been thrilled with the work that has been done for me. I highly recommend Dr. Bowman to anyone who is looking for an outstanding dentist!” -Mary Beth McAvoy; Charlotte, NC

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“I work with dentists from all over the USA and Canada. For “drop dead” gorgeous cosmetic results, Dr. Chris Bowman has the technical skills, passion, and commitment to excellence that make him the #1 dentist I would choose in the Greater Charlotte area!” - Elizabeth Davidson; Editor, The Independent Dentist newsletter “Dr. Bowman & his staff are the BEST! Their sensitivity to your needs and comfort level are unduplicated in any other dental office I’ve ever encountered. Thanks for the great service!” - Krista Grzandziel Charlotte, NC

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Q u e e n H a p p e n i n g s

v C i t y Y o u

J e w e l s

D o n ’ t

W a n t

T o

M i s s

Good Wine, Good Company Tasting Competition Prefaces Tasty Spring Weekend

n anticipation of one of Charlotte’s most popular parties, the newly created Charlotte Cru Competition will be held Sat., Feb. 6 at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in south Charlotte, beginning at 10 a.m. The event, known as C3, is a blind tasting of wines entered by participating wineries for the upcoming Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend, April 21-24. Open to the public, C3 will feature an ensemble of judges that encompasses representatives from the media (including TCW publisher Belva Greenage), wholesalers, restaurateurs, past contributors, and Cru members, who will be rating wines on the 100-point scale. Sponsored by Henry Fleming & Co., the purpose of C3 is to celebrate the contributions of local Cru members to Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend, and to recognize their support of the wine industry. The number and types of wines offered for tasting will be determined by the entries from each of the wineries, and awards will be given in a variety of categories. The results of the competition will be compiled into a list of winning wines, which will be posted at the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend Web site (charlottewineandfood.com), and available at restaurants throughout Charlotte. “We want to pay homage to the Charlotte Cru groups that have given support

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to Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend, and honor them with an event dedicated to what they are passionate about,” says co-chair Chuck Richards, of Reid’s Fine Foods, a charter sponsor of Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend. Held in the spring of every even-numbered year, Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend is The Queen City’s biennial festival of wine, food, and charity, drawing notable winemakers and sommeliers from around the world, and pairing them with Charlotte’s top chefs for four days of fun and educational events. Since its inception in 1989, the Weekend has grown to be one of the Southeast’s largest wine celebrations, and it has generated more than $3.2 million for local charities. The 2008 event welcomed over 4,000 guests and raised $500,000. The 2010 Wine & Food Weekend, built around the theme “Nourishing Mecklenburg County Youth,” will benefit five local youth-oriented organizations: Children’s Theatre of Charlotte — Professional Theatre for Youth Audiences; Council for Children’s Rights — Services for Abused and Neglected Children; Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus — Scholarships and Career Development for Low-Income Youth; Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina — Backpack Project for Underprivileged Kids; and W.I.S.H (Workforce Initiative for Supportive Housing) — Affordable Housing Program within Crisis Assistance Ministry, Homeless Children Focus.

WantToGo? Visit charlottewineandfood.com for information, or call 704/338-9463 (WINE). Tickets are on sale now for April’s Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend.

1/21/10 12:51 PM

tango • chacha • swing • waltz • foxtrot • salsa • hustle • mambo • rumba

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QueenCityJewels

Passionate Program Carolina Voices Presents Valentine’s Day Concert The Festival Singers join forces with select Carolina Voices vocalists and special guests — including nationally acclaimed jazz pianist Noel Friedline; professional ballroom dancing instructors from Queen City Ballroom; performers from Charlotte Salsa; and Charlotte’s queen of jazz, Beth Chorneau — to create a sensual performance of love songs and dance. Attend a pre-concert champagne and chocolate dessert reception with Carolina Voices artistic director David Tang.

elebrate Valentine’s Day with some of Charlotte’s most talented musicians and dancers at Carolina Voices’ annual February concert, LoveSexy: Inspire The Fire, Sat., Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. at McGlohon Theatre.

Step It Up Cupid’s Cup 5K And Fitness Walk Do something good for your heart and support cardiovascular health and rehabilitation programs at Carolinas Medical Center by participating in Cupid’s Cup 5K and Fitness Walk Sat., Feb. 13 at 8 a.m. The course for the event starts and finishes near the Center for Cardiovascular Health in CMC-Myers Park, located on the corner of Kings Drive and East Boulevard. Race participants will enjoy a scenic, rolling course through the historic Myers Park neighborhood. Parking is available in the parking garage of CMC-Myers Park, or at Freedom Park on East Boulevard. There is a suggested fundraising goal of $150 per individual, but participants are not required to raise funds in addition to the registration fee.

WantToGo? Register online at cupidscup5k.com or in person at Charlotte Running Company, 1412-G East Blvd.

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WantToGo? Tickets are $15 to $25, with an additional $15 per person for the pre-concert champagne and chocolate reception. For information, visit carolinavoices.org or call 704/374-1564.

Laugh For The Cure It’s Good For You (And For The Cause) Laugh yourself healthy at the ninth annual Laugh for the Cure® evening, presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Charlotte Affiliate, Thu., March 4 at 6 p.m. at Spirit Square. The event, which was created as part of a grassroots effort to raise awareness and funding for breast-health programs in our community, begins with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction in the Spirit Square atrium. The live auction and hilarious PG-comedy show featuring Frankie Paul and Debi Gutierrez — two of the finest comedians touring today — begins at 7:15 p.m. in the McGlohon Theatre.

WantToGo? Tickets are $42. For information, visit laughforthecure.com or call 704/372-1000.

The Change … Set To Music (And Laughs)

ince March 2001, the hysterical stage triumph, Menopause The Musical®, has entertained and inspired millions of women around the world by encouraging a healthy dialogue about issues of aging and women’s health. The uplifting 90-minute show includes parodies of pop songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, and culminates with a salute to women who are experiencing menopause. The production, written by Jeanie Linders, returns to McGlo-

hon Theatre in Spirit Square, March 9 through 12. The story is set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The all-female cast makes woeful fun of their hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats, and chocolate binges. A sisterhood is created among these diverse women as they realize that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage,” but a stage in every woman’s life — that can be shared, laughed at, and even set to music. TCW

WantToGo? For ticket information, visit carolinatix.org or call 704/372-1000.

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CAROLINAS CONCERT A S S O C I AT I O N NOW

THE 5 BROWNS - ON 5 STEINWAYS

Tuesday, February 16, 7:30 p.m. Hear and watch these five siblings featured on Oprah and 60 Minutes play in a spectacular performance.

Knight Theater , 430 S. Tryon St. For Tickets Call: 704-372-1000 Or Visit CharlotteConcerts.orgTCW_onefourth.qx:Layout

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Actor’s Theatre is Pleased to Present the Charlotte Premiere of...

Black Pearl Sings!

By Frank Higgins

Vintner Dinners...

Directed by Dennis Delamar

Savor wine and food pairings from guest vintners and top culinary talents at restaurants all over the city.

Feb 10 - Mar 6, 2010

Big Bottles & Blues...

Previews: Feb 5 & 6

A RAGS-TO-RICHES MUSICAL JOURNEY!

Powerful, honest and wryly funny. Amidst the Great Depression, a “song collector” for the Library of Congress comes across a jailed Pearl. A descendant of slaves, Pearl herself is a living library of folk songs. Each woman wants something the other has. How much are they willing to give to get what they want?

Tickets ON SALE NOW! Get yours today by calling 704.342.2251 or by visiting actorstheatrecharlotte.org

Party under the stars while enjoying sample selections from over 50 winemakers and bid on rare large-format bottles.

Saturday Vintner Tasting... Sample wines from our participating vintners.

Wine Education Series... Sommelier Tasting... plus many more events!

APRIL 21-24 TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

charlottewineandfood.org or call 704.943.WINE (9463)

help us in our cause:

Nourishing Mecklenburg County Youth

special thanks to:

MHUSA Moët Hennessy USA

proceeds benefit:

650 E. Stonewall St. 704.342.2251

actorstheatrecharlotte.org

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MoneyTalks

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For many people, a new year signals the time to take control of their finances and try to save more. As with any goal, breaking your money-saving plan down into smaller steps will help you realize a successful outcome. At bankofamerica.com/solutions you can find tips and tools to help. Here is a sample of keys to creating a savings plan that will work for you: •

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The skin specialists at DL&VS can break the cycle. Are you experiencing acne due to stress, hormones, pregnancy, menopause, heredity, medications (such as birth control), or for no apparent reason? Only Dermatology, Laser & Vein Specialists has the solution. With over 20 different laser and light devices they can target the source, treat the symptoms and rid your skin of acne for good. Dr. Munavalli helped develop the Isolazâ&#x201E;˘ treatment, combining lasers with injections for more immediate results. Stop wasting time on treatments you hope will work. Call the specialists at 704.375.6766 for your consultation today.

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O n W o m e n

m a k i n g

v T h e M o v e

s t r i d e s

•

b u s i n e s s

s u c c e s s

Job Changes/Promotions

New Business/Changes

Theresa Anzelone was named manager of specialty donor products by Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. Karen Calder has joined CBCC as director of development and public relations.

RightStaff, which specializes in temporary and direct-hire placement, risk management and safety, and talent-management consulting, has opened an office in Mooresville.

Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems has hired Leslie Englander as business manager. Christine Bolin Thomas has joined Harkey Tile & Stone as office administrator.

Dr. Dawn O’Malley was named clinical director of Alexander Youth Network, a nonprofit organization that provides behavioral healthcare for children. Peter Bell, CPA, has hired Wenzhen Xiao as a CPA licensed in North and South Carolina. She will handle the company’s Special Services team involving litigation, valuations, and forensic accounting.

Job Changes/Promotions Job Changes/Promotions

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Dr. Shannon Parisi has opened Parisi Chiropractic at 6425 Bannington Road, Suite B.

Awards And Installations

Premier Healthcare Resources has hired Kate KellyNaylor as recruiter and staffing consultant. Kim Fedchock was promoted to payroll manager.

Angel Wilkes has launched Children’s Party Plus (childrenspartyplus.com), a mobile company that offers specialty theme birthday parties in the Charlotte region.

Dr. Ilieva Ageenko was appointed to the board of directors of The Nehemiah Foundation, a nonprofit group that works in educational, economic, and humanitarian projects in the former U.S.S.R. and Cuba. Kristen LeCrone, director of marketing for DMR Architecture, and K. Kimberly McCleary, president and chief executive officer of The CFIDS Association of America, received Business Leader Media magazine’s 2009 Women Extraordinaire Award.r

s t o r i e s

Urban Building Group was presented five first place awards at the 2009 Contractor of the Year Awards dinner, hosted by the Charlotte chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. UBG garnered top honors in the following categories: kitchen, interior upfit, outdoor living area, bathroom, and exterior renovations. Melissa McGuire, director and co-founder of Sherpa, a consulting, recruiting, and staffing firm, was named to the 2010 Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Executive Board. Beth Burleson, sales manager for Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo, was elected to the board of directors of the Ballantyne Chapter of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. SPARK Publications founder and president Fabi Preslar was presented a 2009 Stevie Award for Best Business Turnaround of the Year. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business recognizes accomplishments of outstanding women executives and business owners, and the organizations they run. The Urban League of Central Carolinas Young Professionals Auxiliary has announced its 2010 Leadership Awards: Okeatta D. Brown, vice president, Wells Fargo Corporate Supplier Diversity; Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers linebacker and founder of Defending Dreams Foundation; and Joachim Rogers, National Black MBA Association Inc. Send your news

W.H. Meanor & Associates was selected for the 2009 Best of Charlotte Award in the executive placement category by the U.S. Commerce Association.

to:

On The Move editor@todayscharlottewoman.com Today’s Charlotte Woman 5200 Park Road, Suite 111, Charlotte, NC 28209

W o m a n

1/18/10 6:14 PM

worknotes

Say What? Workplace Lingo

Sterling Silver • monogramming baby & girlfriend giftS

By Christine Lambden and Casey Conner

epending on your business, specialized language may or may not be an integral part of your day. But whether you manufacture ideas or pipe fittings, there are usually particular expressions, vocabulary, and jargon associated with getting the job done. Next time you’re at the water cooler, listen up for these terms, culled from workplaces where buzzwords are the norm.

Workplace Phrases You Might Not Know … But Should “Boil the ocean” If the scope of a project is too big to consider as one entity, we often hear, “We’re not trying to boil the ocean here. We just need to …” when the client is trying to keep costs down and avoid becoming mired in an overly ambitious project. “Holistic” A big-picture view, or a solution that includes upstream and downstream impacts. “Paradigm” The archetype or pattern that applies to a given situation. For example, “When ownership of our order fulfillment project moved from operations to sales, it caused a paradigm shift that resulted in a whole new project strategy and approach.” “Strawman” The first draft of a solution or proposal, set up to provoke discussion. It is an

object, document, person, or argument that temporarily stands in for — and is intended to be “knocked down” by — something more substantial. “Talking to the dog” Thinking something through by talking it through out loud. You’ll often hear engineers and programmers say that they finally solved a problem by “talking to the dog.” “Use case” A circumstance or situation in which a specific solution would be used. For instance, when designing a system, an engineer will refer to all the use cases that have been documented to determine if his solution will be effective in each situation. “White Paper” An authoritative report or guide published to share technical or business information, generally written for instructional or problem-solving purposes. “Wireframe” Simple pictures or diagrams that show a proposed user interface, often employed by business analysts to communicate expectations to users and developers.

Christine Lambden and Casey Conner, authors of Everyday Practices of Extraordinary Consultants, teach consulting and interviewing skills workshops and seminars around the world. Visit ConsultingStance.com for information. TCW

Ballantyne Quad 14021 Conlan Circle Charlotte, NC 28277 704.335.8550 09-CEENTA-1261_GL_TCW_3.809x6.31Page 1

4/29/09

4:00:15 PM

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Specialists For All Your Senses. Some people think of us as eye doctors and some think ear, nose and throat. Truth is, we’re all that and more. Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates is one of the largest multi-specialty practices of its kind in the country. With many services available at a single location, and so many locations to choose from, your family is in expert hands. The region’s premiere provider for adult and pediatric patients for more than 80 years, you’ll enjoy the convenience and reassurance of the latest techniques and highest quality care. For a more sensible approach to all your senses, Choose CEENTA.

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F E B R U A R Y

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Cardiologist Cheryl Russo chose a medical career focusing on the heart, an organ she describes as fascinating and incredibly resilient.

T o d a y â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s

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Without

Missing A Beat Dr. Cheryl Russo Blazes A Trail As The City’s Only Female Cardiologist By Karsen Price • photos by scott stiles

s a cardiologist, Dr. Cheryl Russo spends her days helping to transform the lives of Charlotte-area women and men whose hearts, due to causes that range from congenital defects to unworried neglect, need an overhaul if they are going to keep on ticking. To be sure, the city is full of medical practitioners similar to Dr. Russo — hard-working,

energetic overachievers who have spent the greater portion of their lives mastering the art of their particular fields of medicine. But Dr. Russo’s experience is a bit different from that of her peers: She is the only female cardiologist who treats adult patients in Charlotte.

“Cardiology is a male-dominated field, probably for a number of complex reasons,” says Dr. Russo, who is on staff with Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. “Although I’ve gone down this road, I’m not sure I know all of those reasons. It’s not infrequent — in fact, it just happened to me today — that I walk into the exam room and the patient says, ‘I don’t know why, but I thought you would be a male doctor.’ ”

A Woman In A Man’s World?

The general assumptions are twofold. People tend to think that women seeking careers in medical fields will be attracted to fields of study where the majority of patients are female, such as obstetrics and gynecology. The second assumption is that heart problems are primarily the worries of men. Both assumptions are wrong. In fact, heart disease is predominantly a woman’s problem. Consider the following statistics from the American Heart Association: • More than one in three female adults has some form of cardiovascular disease.

• Since 1984, more women than men in the United States have died from CVD. • In 2006, U.S. females represented 52.1 percent of deaths from CVD. Heart disease may be a woman’s health issue, but the numbers of women going into cardiology actually are extremely small. In Dr. Russo’s class of fellows (doctors in subspecialty training after completing residency) at Duke University in the early 2000s, she was one of four females. In the class above her, there were even fewer females in the program — although Dr. Russo notes Duke is now actively recruiting women into the field of cardiology. Dr. Russo can’t explain why women tend to specialize in areas other than cardiology. “Because I chose this field, I can’t understand why other people wouldn’t,” she says. “But I can understand why a career in cardiology might be a little intimidating. It’s an aggressive field, in the way that you train and in the way that you treat patients. That’s one of the things that I like about it.” > F E B R U ARY

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Heart Disease It’s Not Just A Man Thing The world is beginning to realize that heart disease is a bona fide woman’s issue, due, in part, to a concerted effort by the American Heart Association and its related Go Red For Women® program. Still, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute’s Dr. Cheryl Russo notes that studies in the last 10 to 15 years show that most people wrongly believe that cancer is the No. 1 killer, and that breast cancer is the No. 1 killer of women in particular. “At some point in your lifetime, 50 percent of American females are going to have some form of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Russo says. “That includes not only heart attack or heart failure, but also stroke and other vascular diseases. It’s very prevalent.” She notes that with women, the disease generally catches up to them later in life, in the postmenopausal years. On average, women present about 10 years older than men with heart disease. Unfortunately, she adds, even women who know that heart disease is prevalent tend to misread their own risks. “When I say, ‘Let’s personalize it — what is your biggest risk?’ women will still answer, ‘Breast cancer.’ ” To counter this incorrect assumption, Dr. Russo counsels patients to assess their risk factor profiles. “I think people should have more information about their own personal health,” she says. “You need to sit down and write on a piece of paper what your risks are.” This means knowing your family history, blood pressure numbers and cholesterol levels, and being honest about your weight. When it comes to heart health, Dr. Russo adds, “A good take-home message for women, and for all patients, is to know your numbers.”

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Assessing a woman’s risk of heart disease is a matter of compiling a risk factor profile, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight, and family history.

A Love Of Learning

Becoming a doctor wasn’t a childhood dream for Dr. Russo. Growing up in the suburbs of Buffalo, N.Y., she was passionate about one thing: learning. She remembers her mother being concerned about her daughter’s overzealous studying habits. “I was a socially normal person, I think,” Dr. Russo jokes, “but my mom would try to pull me out of my room. I would hide and work in workbooks. I’d tell her, ‘It’s homework.’ She would say, ‘I don’t think kids in the second grade get an hour-and-a-half of homework every day. Close it up and get outside.’ I was just the type of person who always loved learning, and being in school, and studying.” That love led her to college, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Upon graduation, she worked as a lab technician, but found there was only so much room for growth. And, after six short months, she realized she missed being in an academic setting. “I wanted to be in lecture halls again,” she says. While continuing to work, she returned

to college to obtain her master’s degree in molecular oncology. During that time she received a good deal of clinical exposure, including the opportunity to attend grand rounds, which appealed to her. And so, the dream of becoming a doctor was born. She was 25 years old. Although Dr. Russo initially planned to focus on hematology or oncology, she was quickly drawn to cardiology. What she liked best is, as she puts it, “the payoff” — namely, that with intervention, medicine, and lifestyle changes, huge advances can be made in a patient’s heart health. “I’m smart enough to know that one organ is not better than another,” she says, “because you couldn’t live without any of them. I think all organs are fascinating, but the thing that I think is fascinating about the heart is that it’s so resilient. The heart can really take a hit, and with intervention and lifestyle changes and medications, it can do a big turnaround. That’s not true of every organ. “If someone comes in with ‘the big one’ heart attack, and if you catch it in time, you take the person upstairs, you open the

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artery, and it’s over with,” she continues. “It’s done. You can’t say that in every field.”

Home Is Where Your Heart Is

Dr. Russo has worked with Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute since 2005. The Queen City was a logical choice when determining where she would practice medicine, because her parents and two of her siblings lived in Charlotte while she was in training at Duke. During that time, her many visits to the city made her feel right at home. These days, Dr. Russo lives here with her husband (who practices hematology/oncology in town), and a 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, along with two rescued cats, two frogs, two hamsters, and three fish. As important as career is to Dr. Russo, she makes sure her children don’t take a back seat. She currently works reduced hours, which helps her juggle the demanding roles of doctor and mother. She has chosen to put some career moves on hold in order to be both parent and professional. “I could be on the partner track, doing everything that my colleagues have done,” she says. “I’ve had that invitation, which was wonderful. But I don’t want someone else there when my kid wakes up, or someone else putting my kids to bed at night. Right now, I have the best of both worlds. I put my son on the school bus every day and then drive to work afterward. “I don’t know if I’ll ever make that last step,” she admits, “which is somewhat frustrating, because I trained very aggressively in all these critical-care procedures. It’s tough.” Dr. Russo recalls a recent night in midDecember. “I was writing out my Christmas cards at midnight,” she says wryly. “There probably aren’t too many professional guys who were doing that at midnight. You’re just juggling a lot more balls, I think, as a professional woman. And it’s not only in medicine. In any profession, women have a lot more to juggle.” While it is somewhat troubling to Dr. Russo that she may never take that leap to the highest levels of cardiology, the choice she’s made is one she can live with. “Although I’m not using 100 percent of my training,” she says, “I’m still in the field. I’m here.” TCW C

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As director of Levine Cardiac Kids, Lisa McKenzie, pictured here with daughter Mary, helps foster hope and understanding for families dealing with the diagnosis of congenital heart defects.

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Celebrating Life Lisa McKenzie Takes On A Supporting Role With Levine Cardiac Kids By Deb Mitchell

even years ago, when Lisa McKenzie was a mother struggling with her newborn daughter’s diagnosis of a congenital heart defect, she sought to connect with other Charlotte-area parents who were facing similar problems. Instead of support, she found a void. McKenzie, whose guiding philosophy has always been “Life is about relationships,” now fills

that void for others, as the executive director of Levine Cardiac Kids, a group that operates in conjunction with Levine Children’s Hospital and the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, offering support to CHD children and their families.

“The part that was missing was being able to talk to other parents about what to expect — in the hospital and after surgeries, as well as worries about life expectancy,” McKenzie says. Although Web sites offered interaction with CHD parents around the country, she adds, “They were just cyber-people. It wasn’t good enough for me, because what I crave in connecting with people is interacting with the whole person — to be with that person, to get a hug.”

A Devastating Discovery

During McKenzie’s pregnancy, doctors discovered what they thought was a hole in the baby’s heart — a minor CHD that could be repaired by a relatively simple surgery. Once Mary was born, however, she was diagnosed with a much rarer, complex CHD. McKenzie and her husband, Chris, were shocked to learn that the condition was life-threatening. Saving their daughter would mean a series of three open-heart surgeries before she was 6 years old.

CHDs are structural problems within the heart, which are present at birth and generally change the normal flow of blood through the heart. Although the causes are usually unknown, studies have shown that genetics can play a primary role. According to the American Heart Association, most children with simple CHDs survive into adulthood and lead fairly normal lives, though they may experience limitations in areas such as exercise capacity. The Children’s Heart Foundation reports that CHDs are the most common of birth defects in the United States, affecting about one out of every 100 babies born each year. Despite trust in the doctors’ medical expertise and the support of well-meaning friends and family members, McKenzie’s journey through Mary’s diagnosis and first two surgeries was a lonely one. She longed for interaction with other parents who had been through the same thing. Likewise, Carolinas HealthCare and Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute were well aware of the relational void for Charlotte-area CHD > F E B R U A R Y

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Although levine cardiac kids provides the emotional strength typical of support groups, it also creates a celebratory atmosphere for the children — and their moms and dads.

patients and their families. But HIPPA privacy laws prevented medical staff from connecting families with similar diagnoses. Shortly before Levine Children’s Hospital opened in 2007, the stars aligned for McKenzie and other area CHD parents when Sanger and Carolinas HealthCare hosted a meeting to discuss the formation of a CHD support group. For the first time, McKenzie and about 15 other CHD families came together in the same room, creating an opportunity for kinship to take root.

Strength In Numbers

To date, Levine Cardiac Kids is over 140 families strong and growing. Monthly meetings are family-friendly, with fun activities planned for the children so the parents can focus on fellowshipping and gathering informa36

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tion from guest speakers. Levine Cardiac Kids also hosts coffees at Levine Children’s Hospital twice each month, to give CHD parents whose children are admitted there a much-needed break from the intensity of a hospital stay. Martha Whitecotton, Levine’s vice president and administrator, says Levine Cardiac Kids would never have happened without the efforts of McKenzie and other similarminded parents. “Lisa and the initial group of families in Levine Cardiac Kids had the passion and energy necessary for the group to be possible,” she explains. “The families have united, and they provide incredible social, psychological, and practical support for one another. Families receiving a new diagnosis have a resource instantly. They can travel the path hand in hand with someone who has been down that path before.” >

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1/19/10 3:17 PM

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Members of levine cardiac kids have the opportunity to participate in an array of activities.

Common Bonds

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Though the usual manifestations of a support group do come into play for Levine Cardiac Kids members — for instance, when a child is hospitalized, it provides emotional support and assistance — the tenor of this group is generally one of celebration. McKenzie describes it as “trailblazing” in this sense. Not only do participants share a sense of gratitude for every day they have with their children; they gain hope for the future by watching other CHD children of all ages grow and thrive. Throughout the year, Levine Cardiac Kids coordinates special events for its members, such as attending a baseball game in the summertime and visiting a corn maze in the fall. This spring, Levine Cardiac Kids will host a first-ever Family Heart Camp, at Kings Mountain State Park. “We don’t just get together and say, ‘Poor me,’ ” says Kim Jackson, Levine Cardiac Kids co-social director and mother of a 17-year-old son with CHD. “We get together and have fun!”

Levine Cardiac Kids gives them the understanding that they’re not alone; that they’re not the only ones who have scars, and who have to see doctors and take medicine. — Lisa McKenzie

CHDs simply to “have fun.” It works hard to give them a space where they can feel like every other child in the room. “A CHD diagnosis puts these children in their own unique little club,” McKenzie says. “Levine Cardiac Kids gives them the understanding that they’re not alone; that they’re not the only ones who have scars, and who have to see doctors and take medicine. After surgery, their friends without CHD don’t know what something like an oxygen tube or a chest tube is. But the CHD friends know, because they’ve had it, too. It’s a different kind of support … because they aren’t fazed by any of it.” In March 2008, when Mary underwent her third open-heart surgery, McKenzie found herself on the receiving end of the support network she now leads. This time, though, with her Levine Cardiac Kids

friends by her side, she felt connected and understood. It was an interesting place to be for McKenzie, who volunteers 25 to 30 hours of her time each week to the organization. Of this supportive dynamic, she says, “You bounce back and forth between the giving and the getting, depending on what’s going on with your child.” Either way, she says, “We get something back. It’s full-circle; the perfect definition of a gift — when you give, you get back.” It’s also the definition of a great relationship and, as such, a place where McKenzie is a perfect fit. TCW

ToLearnMore Visit levinecardiackids.com or call 704/726-3493 for details on Levine Cardiac Kids. Visit the AHA Web site at americanheart.org for information on CHDs.

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1/21/10 12:59 PM

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1/21/10 10:48 AM

Heart F e m a l e A n d Y o u n g At

New Presby Study Looks At Heart Attacks In An Unstudied Group By Michele Huggins • photos by SCOTT STILES

ngela Russ was 45 when she had her first heart attack. She didn’t know she was having a heart attack; she blamed

the pain on fibromyalgia. But her

parents had both died from heart attacks before they were 60.

Knowing his wife’s family history, Russ’ husband insisted she go to the hospital, where she was given an EKG … which came back clean. Lab tests, however, showed enzyme activity variances that indicated Russ had suffered a major heart attack. Seven years later, she had another attack, resulting in emergency open-heart surgery and the placement of three stents. >

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Angela Russ is participating in a unique study focusing on women who have had a heart attack before the age of 55.

Addressing The Issue

Russ is part of a population of women who have suffered one or more heart attacks, or acute myocardial infarctions, at a young age. Heart attacks in women younger than 55 account for approximately 40,000 hospitalizations each year. Ischemic heart disease (characterized by reduced blood flow to the heart), with an annual mortality rate of approximately 8,000 women younger than 55, is ranked among the major causes of death in that gender/age group. In an effort to improve prevention, care, and outcomes for young women who have experienced one or more heart attacks, a nationwide, multi-site study is under way, and Charlotte-area women, including Russ, are participating. The goal of the study is to determine what causes premature heart disease in women, and why they experience worse outcomes than do similarly aged men who have

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had heart attacks. Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes in Young AMI Patients, or VIRGO, is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is facilitated locally through Presbyterian Hospital in collaboration with Yale University School of Medicine. According to researchers, the study is among the first of its kind to focus on this high-risk — and highly unstudied — group. Study participants include women and a smaller “control group” of men who suffered heart attacks before reaching age 55. Researchers are comparing lab results, as well as environmental and lifestyle factors that are present in the subjects’ lives.

Still A Lot To Learn

“Despite the increasing focus on women with heart disease in recent years, we know little about heart disease in this population,”

says Dr. Harlan Krumholz, principal VIRGO investigator at Yale University School of Medicine. “Since young women with heart disease are relatively rare at any one hospital, we have assembled an unprecedented network of almost 100 sites across the country, to identify and enroll women for this groundbreaking study.” The study also addresses the difference in how heart attacks present themselves in women versus men, and how genetic and behavioral factors contribute to premature heart disease in women younger than 55. >

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“Despite perceptions that young women are protected from heart disease, it is one of the leading causes of death in women 55 years and younger,” says Dr. Jerome Williams Jr., medical director of research for the Presbyterian Cardiovascular Institute and local VIRGO principal investigator. “So far we have locally enrolled 12 women and six men. We want to locally enroll 75 people per year, and we plan to enroll a total of 225 over the course of three years.” Another facet being evaluated in the study is how psychosocial factors may play into heart health. Russ was a fulltime teacher, going to college, and helping to care for ailing grandparents when she suffered her first heart attack. “I tried to do it all,” she says. Theresa Grose, also a local VIRGO participant, suffered a heart attack at the age of 50. A mother of three, including a young son with special needs and another son who had recently enlisted in the Navy, she, too, was juggling a variety of stresses when she had her heart attack. Her mother and father, like Russ’ parents, had experienced heart attacks at early ages. When Grose woke up with an odd tingling sensation in her right elbow, she didn’t immediately identify it as a heart attack. But the discomfort increased throughout the day and, based on her family history, she decided she should go to the hospital. After ER doctors did an EKG, Grose was quickly wheeled into emergency heart surgery. Pain in her shoulder, similar to pulled-muscle pain, and the tingling elbow were her physical signals that

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Presbyterian Cardiovascular Institute’s Dr. Jerome Williams Jr. is principal investigator for the VIRGO Study, working to improve care and outcomes for younger women who experience heart attacks.

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‘‘

Since young women with heart disease are relatively rare at any one hospital, we have assembled an unprecedented network of almost 100 sites across the country, to identify and enroll women for this groundbreaking study.

Services:

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Annual Exams Pap Smears Gynecological Surgery Breast Disease Incontinence Infertility Routine & High Risk Obstetrics

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she was having a heart attack. “Women’s symptoms of a heart attack aren’t typical,” she says, emphasizing that women have to be especially aware. “Because of my family history, and because I was overweight and had high cholesterol, my radar was up.”

A Study In Opportunity

The biological, genetic, and environmental factors that surround Russ and Grose are the data that researchers are collecting in hopes of identifying overlapping trends in the lives of VIRGO participants. Researchers hope the study will provide answers to hypotheses as to what is causing heart attacks in women younger than 55, which can then be used to develop new therapies that help lower the statistics. “Clinical research can bring to a community technology otherwise not available,” says Dr. Williams. “Collaborative research initiatives, such as the

VIRGO study, are vital to understanding the potential differences in demographic, clinical, metabolic, psychosocial, healthcare delivery, and biological determinants of prognosis. This will provide us with the knowledge and understanding to eliminate disparate outcomes in young women presenting with acute myocardial infarction.” Russ and Grose are motivated to participate in an effort to increase awareness of heart disease as a major cause of death in young women, and to encourage women to lead healthier lifestyles. Both emphasize the importance of educating women on the different ways a heart attack can manifest itself, noting that it isn’t always overwhelming chest pain that a woman experiences. “As women, we want to conquer the world, and nurture everybody, and go, go, go,” Russ says. “But we need to slow down. I thought I was superwoman … and it got me.” TCW

ToLearnMore In addition to the VIRGO study, Yale University is collaborating with the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women®, a nationwide movement to raise awareness of heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women, and to empower women to reduce their risk by learning about prevention. Visit virgostudy.com for information about the VIRGO study. Check out goredforwomen.org for details on Go Red For Women.

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1/20/10 4:02 PM

Camellias By Michelle Young Hubacher • Photos By Scott Stiles

petal perfect

The camellia may just be the perfect flower: sturdy, showy, and full, but unfussy. Best of all, it’s a winter bloomer. Pile a bunch of them into a pretty bowl for a charming centerpiece, or tuck a single flower behind your ear (to brighten, say, the mood during your Monday morning department meeting). This month, look past the predictable rose … and consider the camellia. >

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bloomin’ beautiful The most common ornamental camellia found in Charlotte-area yards is the Japonica, which rewards the diligent gardener with blossoms even during the chilly month of February. Master gardener Frank Rubbo, whose camellia flowers are pictured here, has been growing camellias for 12 years and names this winter-blooming beauty a favorite among the hundreds of flowering shrubs, plants, and bulbs in his Tega Cay, S.C., yard. Rubbo, along with dozens of other camellia growers — both expert and novice — from around North and South Carolina, will pluck several blooms from backyard bushes and exhibit them for judging at the Charlotte Camellia Society Show, March 13 and 14, at BlackLion, in Pineville. The Show, which is judged by the American Camellia Society, is open to the public and free to attend. Everyone is invited to bring camellia blooms to enter in the Show, where members of the Charlotte Camellia Society will be on hand to help participants identify varieties of camellias, and to provide tips on growing and propagating this evergreen plant.

camellias 411

want to go? The Charlotte Camellia Society Show is March 13 and 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., at BlackLion, 10600 Park Road, in Pineville. The Show is free to attend, and you are invited to bring camellia blossoms to be judged by the American Camellia Society. For information on the Show or the Charlotte Camellia Society, call 704/366-2645, or e-mail carolinecourtney@gmail.com.

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Camellias, regarded as the oldest cultivated plants in the world, are woody perennials, with most growing to shrub size, although the bushes can reach as high as 12 feet. They can be trimmed to create hedges, or pruned and grafted into espalier or tree forms. They can also be grown in containers, and styled into topiary or Bonsai novelties. The blooms range in color from pure white to deep red, and are often variegated in shades of pink and violet. Flowers grow singly or in peonylike double blooms and are typically in the shape of a rose, cup, or saucer. TCW

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1/20/10 4:02 PM

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B y

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nline dating may have its drawbacks, but for one newlywed couple, it was just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Caudrean Avery, an obstetrician/gynecolo-

gist with Mintview OB/GYN, and her husband, Derek Benjamin, a biomedical engineer and owner of Dealer-

Seaside A

marketer.com, met on the World Wide Web about four years ago, through an online dating site. At the time, Caudrean was so busy with her resi-

dency that there weren’t enough hours in the day for her to make many face-to-face social contacts, although

I Do …

she was interested in meeting new people. An Internet dating service seemed an easier and more efficient approach. Derek, on the other hand, says he had no trouble meeting women, but had not yet

connected with the right one. He decided to give the online site a try, but disguised his e-mail address in a riddle in the hopes that some clever lady would figure it out. Caudrean was the first — and only — woman to respond. After e-mailing each other for several weeks,

L i f e t i m e

C o mm i t m e n t

the two finally met in person. >

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Sparks flew for Caudrean when she met the 6-foot, 3-inch former Penn State football player and found that he had a heart and personality just as big. He was immediately taken with the beautiful doctor who had committed her life to taking care of women and their babies. From both perspectives, it was clear this could be the start of something good.

Scheduling Romance

Clockwise from top: Littlest groomsman, Alex, looks on during the ceremony; bride Caudrean Avery contemplates the beautiful day ahead; the couple jumped a bristle broom after their vows, honoring an African-American tradition signifying the sweeping away of the past in preparation for a new life together.

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Caudrean and Derek lived in different states (he in New Jersey and she in Pennsylvania), but they were only about 30 minutes apart. They dated as much as time allowed … which was never quite enough. Derek was an entrepreneur juggling a business, as well as working overnight in a sleep lab, and Caudrean was in the middle of her residency. Regardless, after a year, they realized they were in it for life. Caudrean moved to Charlotte in July 2008. Derek followed her in August and immediately proposed. After a trip to Mexico, they began making plans for their wedding. Even though Caudrean was on call one night each week and worked occasional weekends, she says planning wasn’t a problem. “Being in private practice is much different than being a resident,” she says. “I have much more time. When I’m on call, I get the next day off and that’s the day I would use to plan the wedding.” She found that the same analytical, methodical approach she used in her practice worked well for designing her wedding. Her extensive training and experience also helped her prioritize and focus on the most important things without getting bogged down in minutiae. “Since I am older and more established, I feel like many things weren’t as important as they might have been if I were still in my early 20s,” she says. “Many of the little details weren’t even pertinent to us. I just wanted things simple and elegant.” Both Caudrean and Derek love the beach, and they knew they wanted to get married near the water. Since her hometown is Cooksville, Md., they chose the rooftop terrace of the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club in nearby Stevensville for their ceremony. >

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1/18/10 6:20 PM

Valentine ’s Weekend Ge taway

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Frog Love in the Pink Beds M Dancing with Our Stars & Sweetheart Dance Lovers Walk through the Forests M Headwaters Hugs & Fishes Cupid’s Stroll through Gallery Walk M More lovin’ in art, music, plays Plus “Sweetheart of a Sale” specials in shops and restaurants!

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The bride and groom were able to incorporate their interests and personalities into their wedding — from Derek Benjamin’s love of flying (pictured here at Stevensville, Md.’s Trident Airport, where the photographer took photos of the groomsmen) to the couple’s love of the beach.

Pulling It All Together

Making frequent trips to Maryland on her weekends off, Caudrean watched the various pieces fall into place. When asked by vendors what her vision was, she described her dream wedding as “natural elegance at sea.” The vendors delivered. “I like natural things without a lot of bling,” she says. “We used natural materials, like baskets and seashells, that sort of thing. Everything I chose was simple, but elegant.” About a month before her wedding day, Caudrean reveals, she started feeling the stress of the many months of planning. Then, with just 24 hours to go, she fell apart. “There was huge drama the day before,” she says, with a laugh. “We had a big fight. I lost my keys. And I cried at the

rehearsal dinner. I think I was just exhausted.” The next morning, the drama was gone, replaced by a perfect day. Just before the ceremony, guests were seated in white wood chairs. One front-row chair was reserved in memory of Caudrean’s godmother, Bernadine Pindell, who had passed away two months earlier. A bouquet of flowers and a string of pearls marked the special seat. At noon on July 11, 2009, under a beautiful blue sky, Caudrean walked down the aisle to the music of the Oasis Island Sounds Steel Drum Band. She and Derek poured sand in a special unity picture frame to symbolize the joining of their two families. The frame now hangs in their south Charlotte home. After being pronounced man and wife by Bishop Walter Scott Thomas Sr., from New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, the couple “jumped the broom,” an African-American tradition that represents the sweeping away of the past in preparation for a new life together.

Lucy Parker Photography

With the location confirmed, the next task was selecting a dress. While visiting her maid of honor in Houston, the bride-tobe’s well-intentioned friend took her gown-shopping, with dismal results. “We tried on about five dresses and I hated the whole experience,” Caudrean laments. Once again, she turned to technology for help. “When I got back to Charlotte,” she says, “I went online and searched until I found a Paloma Blanca dress I liked. Mecklenburg Bridal was on the vendor list, so I called them and they had one in stock. It wasn’t my size, but they ordered it for me. It came, it fit, and I loved it.”

Celebration Time

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their 140 guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner that featured mahi-mahi, orange basil chicken, and a scrumptious wedding cake with tiramisu and raspberry-filled layers. Partying and dancing to the music of the Steel Drum Band was the order of the day. Then, the couple bid family and >

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Surrounded by friends and family, Derek Benjamin and Caudrean Avery celebrated their wedding day on the coast of the Chesapeake Bay, near the bride’s hometown of Cooksville, Md.

friends farewell and boarded a chartered boat for a romantic cruise around Chesapeake Bay before arriving at their hotel. The next morning, they left for a honeymoon in Antigua. The only complaint Caudrean has with married life is that she and Derek aren’t able to be together as much as they’d like. “We both have busy schedules, so we have to make sure we carve out time for each other,” she says. “And we recently added Bandit, a Maltipoo puppy, to our family, so we have to make time for him as well! But being married is wonderful, and I wouldn’t change a thing.” Looking back on that happy summer day, Caudrean has some words of wisdom for brides-to-be: “Think about what you want and go for it, but don’t get too caught up in the details. Remember, this day is about you and your husband, not about all the things going on around you. A wedding lasts only one day, but a marriage is for a lifetime.” TCW

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A Cranberry Valentine

is NOT part of the program

From Hand To Heart, Four Decades Of Love By Leigh Barrett

When my mother decided to take knitting lessons in 1965, I was so intrigued that I couldn’t wait for her to buy a pair of needles for me to use — after her first class, I picked up two pencils and a ball of twine and pestered her to show me what to do. Mama bought me some needles and yarn the next day and, before long, I had produced the typical hat-and-scarf beginner projects, as well as a couple of pullovers that I wore proudly, even though they didn’t fit. I kept at it, and eventually turned out some pretty cute outfits for my little sister’s Barbie doll. By the time I was a freshman in college, I was passing up study and sleep to knit afghans for my friends. Even got my picture and a couple of original patterns in the newspaper! For Valentine’s Day in 1970, with three skeins of cranberrycolored yarn from the dimestore, I designed and knitted a ribbed sweater-vest for my father, and it became one of his all-time favorites. He wore it to work; he wore it to church; he wore it when he and my mother went out. Our family Christmases wouldn’t have seemed complete without seeing Daddy in his cranberry vest, opening presents or adding wood to the fire. Over the years, a button came off, and somehow he got a little hole in the vest, but

he sewed on the button and I patched up the hole. My mother died in 2004, but Daddy remained in the house. Every year, we would go there to have our Christmas dinner before exchanging gifts in front of the fireplace. And every year, Daddy would wear his cranberry vest. Daddy turned 93 in October and, after falling several times, finally conceded that he could no longer stay at home by himself. Last month, with heavy hearts, and more than a little angst and uncertainty, my sisters and I set him up in an independent living community in Rock Hill, S.C. The first time I went to visit him at his apartment, as he was showing me around, he opened the door to a spacious walk-in closet in his bedroom. Hanging there in the very front, looking every bit as warm and vibrant as it did when I had given it to him almost 40 years earlier, was the cranberry vest. And at that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace as I suddenly knew, without reservation, that Daddy was going to be just fine in his new home.

Maurice Gray still loves wearing the “Cranberry Valentine” that his daughter, TCW contributing editor Leigh Barrett, knitted for him 40 years ago. TCW

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welcome to the neighborhood T o w n

o f

C o r n e l i u s

B y

A great way to start your day

C l a r k

Top peoplewatching perch …

Stop by Dilworth Coffee House at Oakhurst. Free Wi-Fi and socially conscious coffee are two good reasons to pick up a cup of java here. 9606 Bailey Road • 704/896-6960

Best things about living here

M e a g h a n

The Rusty Rudder attracts locals and tourists — who may arrive by foot or by boat! • 20210 Henderson Road • 704/892-9195

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A recent trip to Brand Name Consignment unearthed a gray Banana Republic jacket for $12.50, and a winter-white wool coat, by Laundry, for $60. Excellent-quality shoes, purses, clothing and accessories can be found here. • 21321 Catawba Ave. • 704/896-0181

love of words through writing and publishing. After a day of editing and negotiating on behalf of clients, Brophy likes nothing better than spending an evening on her boat. With more than 25 years of publishing experience, the author of more than six award-winning books brings stamina, talent, and keen business acumen to this local publishing venture. • warrenpublishing.net

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If you do, be sure to enter our Winter Beauty Giveaway online this

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Insider Tips...

Craving Attention? Twice every hour, a guest at Crave restaurant (in the space that was formerly Stormy’s), has a chance to shine in the spotlight. Grab your 15 minutes of fame as you sing a song, recite a poem, strum a guitar, or tell a joke. 19930 W. Catawba Ave., Suite 130 • 704/892-7747 • cravesomething.com

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Talk Of The Town Drop by Town Hall to visit the Heritage Hall exhibit. Based on the book, A Town by Any Other Name, by Leslie B. Rindoks, Heritage Hall provides an overview of Cornelius history. Antiques, maps, and reproductions of archival photographs help tell the story of the town. Open Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • 21445 Catawba Ave. • 704/896-2460 A Town by Any Other Name is available for sale at the Lake Norman Visitor Center on Catawba Avenue. The Visitor Center conducts an annual tour of Cornelius, as well.

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Wedding Wows Trends In Nuptial Planning

rom the bridal gown to the reception venue, trends for weddings tend to remain fairly constant over time. However, if a bride is looking for unique ideas, there are always tips and tweaks she can easily incorporate into the big day. Lori Stephenson, owner and senior event consultant with LOLA Event Productions, of Chicago, cites a number of ways any couple can infuse a wedding with style.

Size Matters “The trend for smaller weddings will continue in 2010, with a guest list of 150 being an average size, as compared to 200-250,” says Stephenson. “We’re also experiencing a guest ‘regrets’ rate increase — from an expected 10 or 20 percent to 25 percent and more.” She notes that smaller wedding sizes present an opportunity to look at creative venues like galleries, restaurants, and loft spaces, in addition to traditional hotel ballrooms. 60

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With fewer people attending, it’s easier to spring for extras, such as hosting a prenuptial cocktail party or tea for out-of-town guests. You might also consider including amenities that make an overnight stay more economical and comfortable for your guests. For example, secure a range of price points for accommodations, and ensure that hotels offer features such as a complimentary breakfast or a minikitchen. For guests traveling as families, all-suite accommodations are especially thoughtful. Another nice touch is making the weekend even more special by arranging a complimentary sightseeing outing — perhaps an architectural cruise or a museum visit — the morning of the wedding. Stephenson cautions that, prior to signing a venue contract, you should review your guest list in detail — for the number of attendees and how far they’re traveling. “Take into consideration the number of out-of-town guests when negotiating

your food and beverage minimum with the hotel or other vendor,” she says. Nobody wants to pay for upgrades just to reach the venue’s food and beverage goals. If it looks like you won’t have enough guests to meet the hotel’s minimum, ask if you can satisfy the requirements by parlaying the remaining amount required into a brunch the following morning.

Loving Your Location According to Stephenson, hosting a wedding at home was a 2009 trend that surprised more than one couple. “Depending on location, having a wedding at a private residence can be just as expensive — if not more — as a ballroom reception,” she says. “For example, in the Midwest states where weather can be tumultuous, the cost of tenting, flooring, and other necessities can quickly add up.” Looking at alternative venues that showcase a bride’s or groom’s

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Spreading The Word E-mailed invitations and electronic RSVPs have been gaining popularity with all kinds of events, indicating a trend that continues to create a stir with etiquette sticklers. While pushbutton communication is a viable and convenient option for couples planning a more casual soirée (and an easy, eco-friendly way to send out save-the-date requests), most brides and grooms stick with tradition and send formal invitations. However, when it comes to keeping guests apprised of wedding details, technology is often at the forefront, and custom-designing a Web site that mirrors the wedding motif is the latest take on an old trend. “Couples are realizing that the wedding Web site offers guests a first glimpse of the big day, and they’re taking time to integrate stylistic elements from their wedding invitations, personal imagery, and color palettes into the Web design,” says Stephenson.

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When it comes to colors for the wedding, Stephenson recommends transforming the monochrome color palette of the past year into something new and different — perhaps by introducing a muted plum with the currently trendy yellow, to give it a layer of depth and subtlety. She also recommends texture with a twist, noting, “Vintage brocades have been really popular in the last few years, but there are many other fabulous patterns with a contemporary edge from the ’60s and ’70s that are great mixed with some of the mod elements that are so popular right now in décor, such as mirrors and Lucite.” Color can also be used as a unifying element for the wedding party. Bridesmaids can choose dresses in different shades of a chosen color, allowing attendants to look coordinated, not cloned. The bride can also add a splash of color to her gown, if she likes. To make a truly memorable statement, she may ask guests to wear all white so that she can be even more of a standout … in a stunning gown of buttery yellow, icy blue, deep red, or even dramatic black!

Embracing today’s eco-friendly and sustainable trends, many brides and grooms are trying to incorporate positive environmental, social, and economic aspects into their wedding day. “While we continue to see a trend toward being more eco-conscious, we encourage bridal couples to do what reflects their own personalities and interests,” says Stephenson. “Guests are increasingly appreciative of these efforts, especially when they give back to the community.” For example, a couple can work with a caterer to create a menu from local sustainable resources, such as hormone-free dairy and meat products, and pesticide-free produce grown at nearby farms. Another idea is to donate excess food from the wedding festivities to a community shelter. Many couples ask their guests to make contributions to area charitable initiatives, in lieu of wedding gifts.

Nostalgia G lamour

E legance

interests or passions can offer a unique setting. Art lovers might look into a gallery, and wine enthusiasts should investigate restaurants that specialize in wine and tasting plates.

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Visit todayscharlottewoman.com for additional wedding tips and trends.

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Fashion

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Dressed For Bed S l e e p w e a r ,

S e n s i bl e

A n d

S e n sat i o n al

By fiona harmon

lthough satin and lace

in many of their purchases today.

nighties offer another

Quality construction, along with

dimension of romance

the finest fabrics, is a must when

in the bedroom, nothing beats

it comes to pajamas and night-

a comfy pair of PJs to end the

gowns that are comfortable,

day on a soothing note. But

wash well, and go the distance

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Flower Power “Carnation” Tee • Lilly Pulitzer lillypulitzer.com • $38 PJ Pant in “Garden Soiree Robin’s Egg Blue” Belk • $59

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A Step Back In Time “Charlotte’s Premier Vintage Boutique”

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It Makes Scents Fragrance Is In The Air

BEFORE

By Fiona Harmon

Whether you have a signature scent you wear every day, or you change fragrances according to the season, occasion, or mood, choosing perfume is an intensely personal process. Our sense of smell is, in fact, so closely connected to memory that the slightest whiff of perfume can remind you of a specific experience or event, or a particular person. So, the next time you spritz, dab, or douse, remember the mesmerizing impact you very well may be having on those around you! Narciso Rodriguez

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F E B R U A R Y

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AtHome Traditional furniture in a classic red-and-white combination allows for crisp, clean lines that create a beautifully pulled-together overall look. Hemnes furniture series by IKEA® • IKEA and ikea-usa.com

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WW oo mm aa nn

1/19/10 11:57 AM

Sleeping Tight With Or Without The Sheep

By Lee Rhodes

he time-honored tradition of counting sheep in order to fall asleep has largely fallen by the wayside, as comfortable beds and luxurious bedding have rendered the practice virtually unnecessary.

BedTimes magazine, the business journal for the sleep products

industry, attributes the rise in ultra-relaxing sleep products to people’s desire to be, well, ultra-relaxed! We spend eight hours in bed on average per night, and the simple fact is we are looking for those hours to be comfortable.

BedTimes identifies other emerging consumer trends, such as a push for customization across all product spectrums, including handcrafted beds built to the owners’ exact specifications.

Fit For A King

Local interior designer Yolanda O’Brien, founder and owner of Luxe Build LLC, agrees that handcrafted beds, including double kings, are on the rise in popularity. “Basically, if you are Shaquille O’Neal, they can design a bed for you,” she says, with a laugh. “If you have four kids

and they all want to jump in bed in the morning, they can.” An award-winning designer in the industry since 1997, O’Brien says twins and doubles are out; queens and kings are in. Because the latter are not as clunky as they once were — today’s king beds tend to feature cleaner lines, as opposed to heavy ornamentation — they are gaining favor, even in condominiums and smaller living spaces. A clean line doesn’t mean the beds are without flair. Consumers are incorporating upholstered > F E B R U ARY

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AtHome

Luxury you might expect to find in the grandest hotel is now available to any old sleepyhead. Trump Home® Mattress Collection by Serta® • serta.com

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Clockwise from top left: Simplicity in white provides the perfect backdrop to bed coverings that pop. Aspelund furniture series by IKEA® • IKEA and ikea-usa.com Bed frames may play a supporting role, but it’s a heavyduty job — especially with today’s weighty mattresses. Eventide™ Bed Support System by Knickerbocker • Macy’s, macys.com and Knickerbocker (800/526-6294) An upholstered headboard and frame adds posh comfort to this queen. Latrobe Bed from the Mount Vernon Collection by Taylor King • taylorking.com

headboards, and honing in on leather, tweed, and suede as decorative options. Bedroom furniture, in general, is less clunky, as shoppers incorporate wood accents into headboards and blend various finishes and colors, in lieu of entire sets of matching wooden furniture. “People aren’t buying bedroom suites with matching bed, nightstand, and dresser anymore,” explains Joan Inglis, an Accred ited Staging Professional Master® and owner/manager of Lake Wylie Home Staging. “The style is to have everything blend together, such as a mix of contemporary and traditional in your pieces, with something vintage in there, as well.” In terms of bed types, O’Brien says, “Poster beds are classic, and a classic will always be in.” She and Inglis agree that platform beds are hot, while sleigh beds are not. “If you

are into contemporary, platform beds are really big,” Inglis says. “A platform bed doesn’t take a box spring. It’s lower, and the mattress just sits on top of a platform, so the bed frame and legs show, for a very sleek look.”

Foundational Preferences

Box springs and mattresses are particularly personal buying decisions. Dwayne Hill, of Tyndall-Pedic Mattress, has been in the mattress business for decades. He recommends that consumers shop around and find someone who really knows mattresses. “Also,” he advises, “pull the mattress up online and see if there are any problems. People will post complaints, like a mattress is hot, or hard to roll over on. It’s good to check companies out and see who’s going to take care of you.” “I encourage a feather top [placed on the mattress], which acts as an extra mattress,” says O’Brien. “It adds comfort and makes > F E B R U A R Y

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AtHome

the bed fluffy. And, you should flip your mattress every couple of months. Mattresses are like cars — you’ve got to take care of them.” Technological innovations may make it easier than ever to care for mattresses. Some trend-watchers are predicting a day when mattresses will emit messages, letting owners know it’s time to flip.

Dressing The Bed

Building beauty on top of the foundation, the bedding is typically what makes today’s beds and gives your bedroom its personality. Big-name designers such as Michael Kors, Genevieve Gorder, and Candice Olson offer their own bedding lines. These give the 72

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appearance of custom bedding — most times without the cost. An economical approach, according to Inglis, is to select a designer’s bedding line and purchase a “bed in a bag” set. “You’ll get everything,” she says. “You have a dust ruffle, but it’s not the old granny style with actual ruffles. Today’s dust ruffles (sometimes called bed skirts) are tailored and come either pleated or smooth. You’ll get a comforter, Euro shams, and sheets.” Some sets come with duvet covers, which provide more of a minimal, contemporary look and don’t overlap the bed as comforters do. Today’s designers recommend leaving all the pillows exposed, and adding custom pil-

Top: Mix and match a modern take on the four-poster bed with traditional furniture. Edland series by IKEA® • IKEA and ikea-usa.com Your pets sleep well too! Pet bed exclusively from Nordstrom • nordstrom.com

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Helen St. Angelo

PUBLICATION: Charlotte the City ®e Magazin Realtor /Broker DATE: August 2006 ARTICLE: Eat, Drink 704-839-1809 (mobile)

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lows that coordinate with your bedding, wall colors, and the other furniture in your room. Mixing different textures and fabrics provides additional pizzazz. “Highly patterned bedding is not in right now, but textured bedding is,” says O’Brien, who suggests sateen and silk as good fiber options. “This is what you’re crawling between every night, so get the finest, most comfortable-feeling linens. I encourage my clients to touch and feel everything before they buy.” With regard to sheets, the higher the thread count, the softer the fabric and the brighter the sheen. “Good bedding looks like good bedding,” Inglis says. “The highest number people can afford is the best sheet to buy.” Egyptian cotton usually has a high thread count. An affordable thread count to start with is 250. From there, 400 thread-count sheets are more upper-end, though the counts go all the way to 1,000. From bed frame to box spring to mattress to comforter, O’Brien advises consumers to shop the names they know. “People are so conscious about price that brand names are becoming somewhat obsolete, but a wellknown brand can stand behind its product,” she says. Seek out the maker of the look you love and you may be surprised to discover it’s a company that’s been around for a long time. Quality and reliability are as important in a bedding purchase as in any other upgrade or update to your home. After all, you spend a lot of time in bed, O’Brien points out, adding, “You want something with a lot of longevity.” Sheep, begone! TCW

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Seeing Red Dig In For Great Health By Michelle Young Hubacher • PHOTO BY ANITA O’HARA

f an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what might a whole basketful of red fruits and veggies do

for you? A lot, according to nutritionists and medical researchers. Naturally red foods are naturally rich in a variety of powerhouse antioxidants that fight cancer and heart disease and decrease the risk of stroke and macular degeneration. OK, so red M&M’S® don’t count, but these

superfoods will put you on track to a more healthy you in the time it takes to get from the produce section of your grocery store to your kitchen table. Dig in! TCW

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MeetOurAdvertisers

Wellness Inside And Out REVITA Anti-Aging Center’s Holistic Approach By Melinda Johnston

Optimal Health For A Lifetime Within the last 100 years, the average lifespan has doubled. The medical community has now developed ways to ensure the second half of our lives is just as rewarding, happy, and healthy as the first! This is a profound paradigm shift in the way the medical field views aging and age-related disease. Age Management medicine, also referred to as Anti-Aging medicine, is the newest clinical medical specialty — the “optimum” of wellness and longevity — and employs extensive treatments in the preventative healthcare field.

to c

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ous lab tests to determine what may be causing age-related declines in health. “Very few physicians specialize in wellness medicine,” he explains. “Our medical director, Peter Fotinos, M.D., is a specialist in age management medicine. There are more than 100 variables that can affect overall wellness, and Dr. Fotinos tests them all: key hormones used to sustain vitality, thyroid levels, intraday cortisol, DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, neurotransmitters, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and much more. He wants to make sure he Don understands what’s N mana icholas, C EO o g truly going on with f age w ement pr actice REVITA A ell. nt to ad you inside and out; dress i-Aging C en the n eeds ter, crea t of pe then he can share posople ed the ag who e want sible solutions to help you regain to your vitality.” Sometimes, bio-identical hormone replacement is prescribed to bring the body back into energy, elevated frame balance. Nicholas’ personal experience with of mind, better sleep, improved clarity of the treatment is what prompted him to estab- thought, lower body fat, elimination of hot lish the REVITA Anti-Aging Center. “I was a flashes, decreased moodiness, increased libido, patient at a wellness facility and was treated and reduced anxiety. Once a patient’s body with bio-identical hormone replacement,” he chemistry is back in check, Nicholas says, a says. “I hadn’t felt that good in 15 years. I want- healthier lifestyle naturally follows. “The next ed to help others find that same experience.” thing you know, you’re exercising again, eatUnlike synthetics, bio-identical hor- ing better, feeling better, and looking better. mones have the same structure as natu“At REVITA, we work to ensure both ral hormones, all the way down to the your short-term and long-term health,” he molecular level. Top doctors in the field adds. “We want you to live longer and feel say the treatment has been proven safe and good doing it. That’s our goal.” TCW effective, with its benefits touted in O ToLearnMore Magazine and on national television, including the MSNBC network, The Oprah Winfrey REVITA is located at 7810 Ballantyne Commons Show, Dr. Phil, The TODAY Show, 60 Minutes, Parkway, Suite 300. For information, or to book an and 20/20. appointment, visit RevitaAntiAgingCenter.com or call As treatment regimens are implemented, 704/319-5530. REVITA patients typically experience higher pho

ost medical practices focus on treating illness. REVITA AntiAging Center focuses on keeping you well. You won’t find surgery, injections, lasers, or other external treatments at this practice. What you will find is a holistic approach to wellness, designed to leave you feeling years younger, as every member of the REVITA staff works to get you healthy from the inside out. Don Nicholas, CEO of REVITA, believes another birthday shouldn’t be cause for malaise, no matter what some doctors might tell you. “As you age, there’s a predictable progression of symptoms,” he says. “You may have trouble with sleeping, weight gain, low energy, hot flashes, decreased sense of well-being, or simply not feeling 100 percent. Many of our patients tell us they’ve discussed these symptoms with their doctors, only to be told that it’s all a part of aging. But it doesn’t have to be that way.” Nicholas says a key to wellness is having a specially trained physician examine each patient’s individual symptoms, using vari-

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Listen Up

Know Your Risks ... And Your Options

Oh, My Beating Heart Risks Of Abnormal Rhythm

s your racing heart a sign of love, or a case of atrial fibrillation? AF, the most common type of heart-rhythm abnormality, is a condition in which the two small upper chambers of your heart quiver instead of beating properly. It is estimated to affect up to 2 percent of all people, and up to 14 percent of the elderly. Symptoms include palpitations, breathlessness, and tiredness; the major hazard is an increased risk of stroke. An irregular heartbeat is more common in men but much more dangerous for women, according to researchers at Rush University Medical Center, who have found that women

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with atrial fibrillation are more likely than men to experience symptomatic attacks and have recurrences. Researchers also found that women have significantly higher heart rates during atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk for stroke. Last year, a study at Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen found that women with atrial fibrillation were more than four times likely to suffer a stroke than were men with the disorder. Published findings in the journal Circulation also indicate that women are at least 30 percent more likely than men to die early from atrial fibrillation.

Although these findings are alarming, atrial fibrillation can be successfully treated. Researchers made the following observations and recommendations related to gender differences: • Women are not prescribed blood thinners as often as men are, resulting in a higher incidence of the formation of clots that break loose and block other vessels. The risk/benefit ratio of blood thinners should be assessed individually for each woman. • Women have a greater risk of bleeding from anticoagulation therapy, so this treatment must be watched carefully. • Women being treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs should be closely monitored, because they have a higher risk for life-threatening arrhythmias and slow heart rates requiring permanent pacing. • Women’s hormonal fluctuations can cause more life-threatening arrhythmias. • Women are usually typically referred less often — and later — for non-drug treatments such as pacemaker implantation.

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The Heart Of The Matter A Chest-Pain Primer

he heart is not the only cause of chest pain. Muscles, bones, and other internal organs can generate sensations similar to those experienced by people who do have heart complications. Aching and tenderness can be caused by the trachea, bronchi, stomach, lungs, or even emotional stress. Whether heart-related or not, persistent chest pain should always be checked out, as ignoring it can have lethal consequences. With a mighty mission to present vital medical information in layman’s terms, Dr. Albert J. Miller, of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, in Chicago, introduces a guide called Chest Pain — When & When Not to Worry. The book explains the large number of possible causes of chest pain, and details what type of pain could signal danger. Dr. Miller stresses that Chest Pain

should not be used in place of a visit to a physician, but as a useful resource that will help people assess the potential severity of their pain. He hopes that by being more aware of the nature and variety of pain, people will be able to seek appropriate treatment in a timely manner. If you (or someone you love) are caring for senior family members, have a family history of heart problems, or are experiencing an unusual amount of stress, this small book, available for $11.95 at selfhelpsuccessbooks.com CW.Qtr.Pg.Ad 12/10/09 could save your life.

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For a 150-pound person, doing the following exercises will burn about 150 calories — a great start to getting into shape: • Walking a mile at a pace of 15 to 20 minutes per mile • Swimming laps for 20 minutes • Bicycling for 30 minutes • Running a mile at a pace of 10 minutes per mile • Climbing stairs for 15 minutes • Raking leaves for 30 minutes • Playing basketball for 15 to 30 minutes • Playing volleyball for 45 to 60 minutes • Gardening for 30 to 45 minutes • Jumping rope for 15 minutes • 11:26 Dancing 30 minutes > AM forPage 1

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Stocking The Pantry Standing Seniors In Good Stead

ood nutrition is the first line of defense for older adults who are striving to maintain their independence as they age, helping to protect them from illness and disease. But achieving a well-balanced diet is not always easy. The physical limitations that come with aging often make shopping, cooking, or even simply dining a challenge for many seniors. The Home Instead Senior Care® network is now arming seniors and family caregivers with a valuable resource for healthy aging. The Cooking Under Pressure nutrition campaign provides education and support to seniors and their family members who are sometimes stressed by the demands of caregiving. According to Home Instead Senior Care research, an estimated 83 percent

of family caregivers help with groceries or other errands on behalf of senior family members, and 65 percent assist with meal preparation. Partnering with nutrition experts at the University of Maryland and Duke Diet and Fitness Center (part of Duke University Medical Center), Home Instead has developed a handbook of nutrition tips as well as recipes, shopping pointers, and a list of 12 food staples that older adults should always have on hand. Cooking Under Pressure also helps seniors and their family caregivers tune in to the dangers of inadequate nourishment, a real danger for older adults. The booklet outlines the warning signs of malnutrition in seniors — signs that are important to watch

for when caring for the elderly. Visit foodforseniors.com or homeinstead.com for information.

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Say Hello To Your Toes … It’s Good For Your Ticker

ouching your toes used to be a gymclass requirement in elementary school. Turns out, it might be worth a try to see if you can still do it. Why? A new study suggests that your ability to touch your toes as you get older could reveal something important about your heart. In particular, about the flexibility of the arteries that feed your heart. When it comes to muscles, flexibility is a good thing. And the same goes for your blood

Ronald L. Brown, MD Fellow, American College Ob/Gyn Member, N. American Menopause Society

vessels. The more limber and elastic those vessels are, the better they maintain healthy blood pressure. Now, research suggests there might be a connection between flexible muscles and stretchy blood vessels. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that adults 40 and older who had a harder time touching their toes from a sitting position also tended to have stiffer arteries. Their systolic blood pressure numbers were also a bit higher than those of their more limber peers.

Dr. Ronald L. Brown has been treating women with hormone replacement therapy for 30 years. During the past 5 years, he has focused his practice on wellness issues for women and men through bio-identical hormone replacement, nutrition, fitness, and supplements. His mission is to dramatically improve the quality of life of his patients.

Strength In Survival

Keeping A Second Cancer Diagnosis At Bay According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, breast cancer now has a greater than 90-percent five-year survival rate in the United States, resulting in a large and ever-growing number of survivors. Since these women are at two to six times greater risk of developing a second cancer as compared to women in the general population, it is important to know what factors may increase that risk. A new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle has found that obesity, alcohol use, and smoking all significantly increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence. “We found that obese women

Experience You Can Trust

had a 50-percent increased risk; women who consumed at least one alcoholic drink per day had a 90-percent increased risk; and women who were current smokers had a 120-percent increased risk of developing a second breast cancer,” says Christopher I. Li, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study. Both obesity and alcohol use are associated with increased levels of circulating estrogen, thought to be the primary means through which they confer an increased risk of breast cancer, since estrogen can fuel breast cancer growth. The link between smoking and breast cancer may be attributed to carcinogens in tobacco smoke. TCW

Author of The Youth Effect Barraged with the conflicting messages about the safety of hormone replacement therapy? In The Youth Effect, Dr. Brown cuts through the confusion and offers a clear, concise view of the heart of the matter.

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T o m o r r o w ’ s G irls

A n d

Chandler Sharpe Love Luggage Coordinator

v C h a r l o t t e W om e n

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It’s All About Love By Michelle Young Hubacher • Photo BY JAMES BROWN

he most selfless acts of volunteerism just might be the ones carried out on behalf of recipients you will never meet. For 15-year-old Chandler Sharpe, local coordinator for Love Luggage, providing refurbished and brightly decorated luggage to children in foster care — children whose identity is kept confidential for their own safety — is a labor of love. For three years, she has been involved with the nationwide service program, which was brought to Charlotte by another teen who eventually handed over the reins to Chandler. Love Luggage is a grass-roots endeavor that collects hard-sided suitcases of all sizes, which are cleaned and hand-painted in colorful, kid-friendly themes and patterns. Chandler selects an organization, such as Barium Springs Home for Children, or Thompson Child & Family Focus, to be on the receiving end of the “new” suitcases. “When I was in seventh grade, an older girl in my neighborhood [McKenzie Cox, now a student at University of North Carolina] was leading Love Luggage and asked me to join the project,” says Chandler, a freshman at Charlotte Christian School. “When I found out that most kids in foster care end up car-

rying their belongings — their clothes and all they own — in plastic garbage bags, I really felt like what we were doing was big.” One look at the Sharpe family’s attic, which serves as the warehouse for collected luggage in various stages of refurbishment, demonstrates that the effort is, indeed, “big.” The process of cleaning and sanitizing happens in phases, with the help of Chandler’s mom, Jean. The suitcases are sanded and primed by Chandler and her friends. Then, she says, “We get to the really fun part.” The suitcases are distributed to volunteers and highschool art classes, where students paint and decorate the luggage. Chandler, a straight-A student and star athlete in both soccer and basketball, has been recognized with a Youth GoodWorks Award from Charlottebased TV show GoodWorks with Rahman Khan. “I know how much the suitcases will mean to kids who are in the kind of transition a lot of them are,” Chandler says. “Some of them have had to move out of their homes for reasons they’re not even old enough to understand. Being part of making that even a little bit easier means so much to me.” TCW

ToLearnMore Love Luggage collects only hard-sided suitcases and also accepts monetary donations to purchase paint and refurbishing supplies. E-mail 3sharpe@bellsouth.net for information.

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money talks What is yours saying to you?

MoneyTalks A free WeAlth building, finAnciAl PlAnning seminAr designed With Women in mind how things have changed…. today’s economic conditions have made all of us consider how we spend, how we save and how we prepare for the future. You are in a position to take control of your personal finances. Join us and other women just like You to discuss how you can get started.

Thursday, March 11 7:30 a.M. To 10:30 a.M. The riTz carlTon, 201 e. Trade sT. charloTTe, nc • A nationally known financial expert to discuss overall economy and impact on personal assets • Break-out sessions to cover investing, developing a personal saving plan and multi-generational or legacy planning. • Tangible take-home advice on handling your finances with confidence.

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Everlasting Love. Everlasting Value. Ha p p y Va l e n t i n e s D a y

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